Most people who build Gunpla are aware of the four main grades, to the point that they might measure their level of skill at modelmaking based on the grade of model they have most fun building.
Super Deformed, High Grade, Master Grade and Perfect Grade, as well as the countless sub-categories and special grades in between, not only determine the size of the finished model but also its complexity and how long you should expect to take to build them.
The grade system is unique to Gunpla and is an often-underrated part of the reason why the hobby is so popular; there is a sense of progression and achievement when you finish a more complex kit.
However, from the very first line of Gunpla models in 1980 up until the release of High Grade in 1990, Gundam model kits did not have a grade designation. Nowadays, they are often known as “No Grade” (NG), “First Grade” (FG) or “Gradeless” models.
No Grade gunpla were quite different from the kits we are used to today; they varied wildly in scale, had very limited articulation compared to even Entry Grade kits today, had only the bare minimum of detailing, and typically required glue and paint for an accurate appearance.
They were much closer in construction to a typical military model kit, such as an Airfix model, which reflected the early, older audience of the first Mobile Suit Gundam series, but also revealed that a more refined approach was needed.
Mobile Suits, both in-universe and in model kit form, are far more complex than military aircraft or tanks, with much more robust detailing and articulation to be accurate.
The 1980s No Grade Gunpla showed this development in action; by 1985, soft plastic connectors held joints in place to allow for better posing. In 1988, every kit used the now-standard snap-fit assembly system, which meant no more glue.
By the end of the decade, single sprues could be cast in multiple colours, reducing the need for paint.
All of this standardisation would lead to the development of “High Grade” in 1990, and whilst other No Grade Gunpla have been made since as budget models or rereleases of vintage kits, the grading system has become the standard for the hobby.
As well as being fascinating historical curiosities, No Grade Gunpla show just how far the hobby has come since Bandai had the incredible foresight to realise what their audience wanted from Gundam.
